The Blue Lagoon: Visiting Iceland’s Natural Spa on a Layover
Overpriced, overcrowded and overrun with tourists. Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is all these things.
But it is also tranquil, therapeutic and overwhelmingly beautiful.
I visited the Blue Lagoon on my twenty-four hour Reykjavik layover, after spending the morning meandering along the colorful streets of Iceland’s capital. Since I knew I was going to forego sleeping for a few hours upon my arrival, I figured pairing my fast-paced morning with a relaxing evening would be the perfect way to maximize my layover, while minimizing the exhaustion I often feel when deciding to skip my routine morning nap.
What is the Blue Lagoon?
The mineral-rich Blue Lagoon is a semi-natural spa and hot spring that has been partially responsible for making Iceland a popular tourist destination. Aside from being visually unique, the lagoon has been known to cure skin diseases like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Thus, many people seeking skin treatment flock to the Blue Lagoon in hopes that the waters’ healing properties will offer relief to their skin ailments.
Though often touted as one of Iceland’s premier natural wonders, the lagoon is, in fact, a partially-manmade byproduct of the nearby Svartsengi power plant. The power plant takes the heated water from the ground and uses it to run turbines in order to generate electricity. The water is then pumped back out into the lava fields, where it forms a pool.
This water runoff from the power plant—known worldwide as ‘the Blue Lagoon’ has become a magnet for tourists seeking a day of pampering and relaxation at one of the world’s best natural spa getaways.
Getting to the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
The Blue Lagoon sits 20 minutes from the Keflavik Airport and just under an hour away from Reykajavik in the UNESCO Reykjanes Geopark. Due to its central location, the Blue Lagoon is accessible both as a day trip from Iceland’s capital, and as a worthwhile stop on a long airport layover.
When I visited Iceland on my 24 hour layover for work, I didn’t take advantage of the direct transportation link between the airport and spa. At the time, I didn’t know about the buses and transfer services that run from Keflavik to the Blue Lagoon.
Instead, I took my flight attendant shuttle into town and then booked roundtrip transport from my hotel. I wish I had known there was an easier way to travel between the airport and Iceland’s number one tourist attraction. It would have saved a lot of time.
At 3pm, after a quick lunch of lobster cream soup, my crew and I took a forty minute bus ride to the Blue Lagoon. The bus ride out to the lagoon was hauntingly beautiful in itself. The surrounding colors were stark and foreboding–perhaps largely due to the grey skies overhead.
What struck me most about the landscape is that it seemed both lifeless and flourishing all at once. The terrain was so desolate that we failed to spot a single tree outside the Reykjavik city limits, yet the blackened earth was speckled with vibrant green mosses and lichen that gave life to the surrounding area.
Is the Blue Lagoon worth Visiting?
Before visiting the Blue Lagoon, I’d read plenty of accounts lamenting its steep entrance price. Entrance to Iceland’s premier geothermal spa costs a small fortune–from 55 euros for the most basic package to over 600 euros for the most luxurious spa retreat. The high entrance cost–especially when considering Iceland’s plethora of free natural hot springs–led me to wonder if the Blue Lagoon was even worth visiting.
Yet, I decided to bite the bullet and buy the basic package to Iceland’s top attraction during my short 24 hour layover.
As we neared the lagoon, we could see clouds of steam rising from the geothermal power plant. They tumbled out of the ground and drowned the surrounding landscape in a translucent curtain of grey.
Branching out of the center of the complex, we could see the powdery blue water runoff creating rivers through the lava beds. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the color of the water. I had previously seen pictures of the lagoon, but had always imagined them to be enhanced in some way.
But the colors were real. What I saw with my eyes were the very same milky blue shades that showed up on Google images.
The milky aquamarine color is the result of the white silica and blue-green algae that cover the lagoon’s floor.
I spent nearly four hours lounging in the water, covering my face with silica mud masks and darting between the lagoon’s various saunas and steam rooms.
It was the ultimate spa day, made a thousand times better by the jaw-dropping natural setting and striking array of colors.
Yes, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon may be overpriced, overcrowded and overfilled with tourists but, as our bus pulled away from the parking lot and headed back toward Reykjavik, I couldn’t help feeling that the price tag for this tourist magnet was totally justified.
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Additional Tips and Information on Visiting Iceland
- Due to its location near the airport, the Blue Lagoon is a perfect place to visit during an Iceland stopover. If you have more than 24 hours in Iceland, I recommend visiting the island’s southern coast and Golden Circle.
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